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WORLD HERITAGE LIST
World recognition for Japan’s cultural and natural heritage
Shirakami-Sanchi
Japan’s last remaining
virgin forests of Siebold’s
beech trees are found in
the Shirakami Mountains.
With a diverse natural beauty and a long,
distinctive cultural history that produced a rich
variety of buildings and other cultural
properties which still exist today, Japan has
17 sites on the World Heritage List as of 2013.
The World Heritage
Convention
Officially called the Convention Concerning
the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage, the World Heritage
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WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Convention was adopted on 16 November
1972 by the 17th General Conference of
UNESCO. Important step of linking together
the concepts of nature conservation and
preservation of cultural properties, the
convention’s purpose is to protect and
preserve places and properties that are an
irreplaceable part of the cultural heritage of all
humanity. This includes notable historical and
archeological sites, monuments, and groups
of buildings as well as natural features,
natural sites,
and
geographical
and
physiographical formations. The convention
also defines the duties of its signatory
Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Ground zero of the atomic bomb dropped on
Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 was
160 meters southeast of the Hiroshima
Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the
building now known as the Genbaku Dome or
Atomic Bomb Dome. (Photo courtesy of
AFLO)
countries, and it specifies how the World
Heritage Fund is to be used to support tasks
such as training assistance, technical
cooperation, and emergency assistance.
As of July 2012, 189 countries had ratified
the convention, and a total of 962 properties
had been inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The Closing Event of the 40th Anniversary of
the World Heritage Convention was held in
Kyoto in November 2012.
In the 12th century, Fujisan became the
center of training for ascetic Buddhim, which
included Shinto elements. Its representation
in Japanese art goes back to the 11th century,
but 19th century woodblock prints of views,
including those from sand beaches with pine
tree groves have made Fujisan an
internationally recognized icon of Japan and
have had a deep influence on the Western art.
Cultural Sites
Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
(year of designation: 1993)
Located in Nara Prefecture, the Horyu-ji
temple was founded in the early 7th century
by order of Prince Shotoku (574-622), who
played a key role in the introduction of
Buddhism into Japan. Although the temple
compound was destroyed by fire in 670, it
was soon rebuilt on a larger scale within the
compound later designated as the Western
Precinct. The extant pagoda, main hall
(kondo), inner gate (chumon), and part of the
surrounding corridors are the oldest wooden
buildings in the world, dating from the late 7th
to early 8th centuries. The Eastern Precinct
was added in the 8th century. The World
Heritage designation covers 48 buildings.
Fujisan, sacred place and source of
artistic inspiration (2013)
At 3,776 meters Mount Fuji "Fujisan" is
Japan's highest mountain, spanning the
prefectures of Shizuoka and Yamanashi. The
snow-capped image of Fujisan is an iconic
symbol of Japan, recognized throughout the
world. It is an active volcano; although it has
not erupted since the Edo era (18th century.)
This property consists of 25 sites which reflect
the essence of Fujisan's sacred and artistic
landscape. "Fujisan" has long been the object
of pilgrimages and inspired artists and poets.
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Mount Fuji snow-covered tip stands out
against the springtime green
Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of
the Kingdom of Ryukyu (2000)
The Kingdom of Ryukyu ruled the Ryukyu
archipelago, including Okinawa and many
other islands, for 400 years beginning in the
15th century. The word gusuku means
“castle” or “high place with an enclosure” in
the Ryukyu dialect. The nine properties
include castle ruins and sacred sites that are
important artifacts of the distinctive culture
that developed in these islands. Shuri Castle,
located in the city of Naha, served as the
main castle of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Himeji-jo (1993)
Located in the city of Himeji, Hyogo
Prefecture, Himeji-jo is also known as
Shirasagi (White Egret) Castle because of its
tall, white elegance. Although the castle was
first constructed during the mid-14th century,
most of the 83 existing structures were built
between 1601 and 1609. The finest surviving
example of Japanese castle architecture,
Himeji-jo was both a beautiful and formidable
military stronghold. Once past the outer walls,
attackers would still have had to contend with
a labyrinth of easily defended passageways
before they could even approach the four
linked donjons. The main compound is
located on a hill 45 meters (148 ft) high, and,
along with the adjoining west compound, it is
surrounded by three rings of outer
compounds. The main donjon appears five
stories high on the outside but is actually
seven stories on the inside.
Great Buddha of Nara
This 15-meter bronze
statue of the Buddha
Birushana has been
severely damaged and
restored several times
since its creation in AD
752.
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Hiraizumi (2011)
Located in the center of the Tohoku region,
Hiraizumi is the home to temples, gardens,
and other historical remains of the Oshu
Fujiwara clan, which governed the Tohoku
region for over 100 years beginning in the late
11th century. The designated site also
includes a sacred mountain. Built with
uniquely Japanese building construction and
horticultural techniques, these temples and
gardens represent the ideals of Pure Land
Buddhism, a Buddhist school of thought
which flourished in Japan during that era,
expressing a peaceful world with no conflict.
Especially well-known are Chuson-ji Temple,
which houses golden Buddha statues, and
Motsu-ji Temple, where the pond represents
the Pure Land. Together they serve as a
reminder of the glory of by-gone days.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku
Dome)(1996)
Also known as the Genbaku Dome and the
Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace
Memorial has been preserved in the same
condition it was in following detonation of the
atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on 6
August 1945. The building was originally built
in 1915 as the Hiroshima Prefectural
Industrial Promotion Hall. According to the
World Heritage advisory body evaluation, it “is
a stark and powerful symbol of the
achievement of world peace for more than
half a century following the unleashing of the
most destructive force ever created by
humankind.”
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Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
(Kyoto, Uji, and Otsu Cities)(1994)
The ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto was
home to the imperial court from 794 to 1868.
As the center of Japanese culture for more
than 1,000 years, Kyoto is home to an
incredible wealth of traditional architecture,
including Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines,
and imperial villas. Although a great many
others could have been added, the World
Heritage
site
designation
specifically
mentions 17 properties, including the
following. The temple Kiyomizudera is famous
for its wide veranda, which overlooks the city
from the east. The temples Kinkakuji (Temple
of the Golden Pavilion) and Ginkakuji (Temple
of the Silver Pavilion) served as villas for
Ashikaga shoguns in the 15th century. The
Zen temple Ryoanji is home of Japan’s most
famous Zen-style rock garden. Elegant Nijo
Castle served as the residence for the
Tokugawa shoguns during their visits to Kyoto.
Located south of Kyoto in the city of Uji, the
temple Byodoin is home to one of the finest
examples
of
Heian-period
(794-1185)
architecture, the Hoodo (Phoenix Hall).
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
(1998)
From 710 to 784, Nara served as the capital
of Japan. Absorbing cultural (literature, art,
architecture, etc.) and religious influences
from Tang China, the city became a
prosperous center of Japanese culture. Nara
was long the most important center of
Buddhism in Japan and this legacy is well
represented in the World Heritage properties.
Most striking is the Great Buddha Hall of the
temple Todaiji. One of the largest wooden
structures in the world, it houses the 15-meter
bronze statue known as the Great Buddha of
Nara. Important examples of Buddhist
architecture can also be found at the temples
Kofukuji, Yakushiji, and Toshodaiji. The
Kasuga Shrine is noted for its unique style of
Shinto shrine architecture (kasuga-zukuri).
Shirakawa-go
Many thatched gasho-zukuri farmhouses
can be seen in the Shirakawa-go area.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and
Gokayama (1995)
The three mountain villages of Ogimachi,
Ainokura, and Suganuma in the Shirakawago/Gokayama area contain many farm
houses built in the gassho-zukuri style. The
steep thatched roofs of these houses had to
stand up to the heavy snowfalls that isolated
the remote villages in winter. The homes were
designed so that the upper floors could be
used for raising silkworms.
Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (1996)
According to tradition, Itsukushima Shrine
was established in 593. It is located on a
Hiroshima Bay island that has been
considered sacred since ancient times. The
shrine is famous for its large torii gate, which
stands 160 meters out into the bay, and for its
beautiful vermillion shrine buildings which
seem to float above the water at high tide.
Itsukushima Shrine
Dedicated to three tutelary deities of
maritime transportation and built mostly over
the water of Hiroshima Bay, this shrine and
its island setting are considered one of the
three most beautiful scenic sights in Japan.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural
Landscape (2007)
Located in the city of Oda in Shimane
Prefecture, the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was
worked for approximately 400 years, from the
early 16th to 20th centuries. Following the
introduction of advanced mining techniques,
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WORLD HERITAGE LIST
in the 16th and 17th centuries the mine
produced
huge
quantities
of
silver,
contributing to the economic development of
both Japan and Asia, where the silver was
used in international trade.
Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the
Kii Mountain Range (2004)
The sacred sites of Yoshino and Omine,
Kumano Sanzan, and Koyasan are located in
the Kii Mountains, a densely forested region
south of the ancient capital cities of Nara and
Kyoto. Yoshino and Omine contain many
mountain temples of Shugendo, a Buddhist
mountain ascetic sect that incorporates
elements of Shinto. Kumano Sanzan is the
collective name for three Shinto shrines
located in the Kumano district. Koyasan is a
Buddhist monastic complex located on a
mountain of the same name.
Yoshinoyama
The Yoshinoyama hills in the Kii
Mountains are famous for their cherry
blossoms and historical sites.
Shrines and Temples of Nikko (1999)
Nikko is most famous as the site of Toshogu,
the Shinto shrine established in the 17th
century to house the mausoleum of
Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa
shogunate. Shrine buildings, such as the
main gate known as the Yomeimon, are
Shiretoko
Many wild animals live in the unspoiled natural
environment of the Shiretoko Peninsula in
Hokkaido. (Photo courtesy of AFLO)
lavishly decorated with beautifully carved and
brightly painted figures. Also at Nikko are the
Futarasan Shrine, the Buddhist temple Rinnoji,
and a forest of huge cryptomeria trees
planted around the time Toshogu was built.
Natural Sites
Ogasawara Islands (2011)
This group of over 30 islands is located in the
Pacific Ocean approximately 1,000km southsoutheast of Tokyo. These islands are
uninhabited apart from Chichijima and
Hahajima, and they host a rich variety of flora
and fauna, as well as beautiful scenery. As
the ecosystem has never been part of a larger
landmass, there are many life forms which
have evolved in diverse ways and are unique
to these islands; there are over 600 endemic
species of animal and plant life, such as the
Bonin Flying Fox (Pteropus pselaphon).
There are 57 species of endangered plant
and animal species for which these islands
form an invaluable ecosystem.
Shirakami-Sanchi (1993)
Located in the northern part of Japan’s main
island of Honshu, the Shirakami Mountains
are covered with the last remaining virgin
forests of Siebold’s beech trees (see photo on
page1). Japanese black bears and Japanese
serow live in the forests along with many bird
species.
Shiretoko (2005)
The Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the
northeast corner of Japan’s northernmost
island of Hokkaido. Covered by dense
coniferous forest and a massive volcanic
range, it is one of the wildest and most
remote regions in Japan. An excellent
example of the interaction of terrestrial and
marine ecosystems, Shiretoko is an important
habitat for a number of endangered plant and
animal species.
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WORLD HERITAGE LIST
Yakushima (1993)
The World Heritage site designation covers
over one-fifth of the island of Yakushima.
Receiving the heaviest rainfall in Japan, the
island has subtropical coastal areas as well
as the tallest mountain in the Kyushu region.
The forests contain many Japanese
cryptomeria trees which are thousands of
years old. One of those trees, known as the
Jomon Sugi, is estimated to be more than
7,000 years old.